Over determined means there is not simply just one cause for any experience in your life. Let us think about this. If your car breaks down on your way to work your late arrival is determined by many factors: how difficult it is for you to find a phone for a tow truck, how long it takes for the tow truck to arrive, how difficult it is to fix the cars problem (is it a battery or a fuel leak), how eager you are to get to work, how willing you are to leave your car behind and take a bus. It is a combination of all these and perhaps, more the outcome can vary a lot.

Now let us consider the factors related to a health issue. Let say you have a runny nose, is it caused by an irritant in the air? Is it caused by the cold air you are out in? Is it caused by a weakened immune system fighting a virus? Is it caused by your low recent intake of vitamin A or C or both and your excess intake of refined sugar? Is the weakened immune system caused by stress you are experiencing since your car broke down on the way to work? Is it all of these? or more.

Every event appears to have many causes and is thereby, over determined. We are not overweight just because we eat too much. We are not over stressed because we don’t practice yoga. We do not have a low income because the economy is struggling.

There are always many causes but a good place to start to help eliminate some of the many common causes of stress and lack of wellness is to read the 19 steps that can help reduce stress and increase success and wellness in your life I write about in my FREE action guide.  This a workbook I created to help seminar attendees put into practice ideas shared in my paid for seminars. You can get a free copy today by completing the form on the top right of this page.

Get a copy, check out the contents and you most likely will learn something that is going to help make your life better today.

My best to you,

David

P.S. I have read a number of Scott Peck’s book. I do recommend you take the time to read The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth It has been a National Best Seller for over twenty year with over six million copies are in print. Follow the link The Road Less Travelled to read comments from readers.

What is interesting about many of our social activities, according to more and more scientific research, is that they are contagious so if you want to make a habit of something new, you need to spend time with people who can infect you with the positive behaviour you desire. If you want to motivate yourself more to take better care of your health and to exercise start hanging around with a fitness fanatic. If you want to feel less stressed start making friends with people who are manage stress better than you.

Nicholas Christakis, a researcher at Harvard Medical School along with his colleague James Fowler have done extensive research on our social interactions relating to our health and wellness. Christakis calls our tendency to follow the healthy (or unhealthy) habits of friends ‘social chain reaction’.

It is worth noting that the chance of you being influenced by another’s healthy living behaviour (or you influencing them to embrace a positive behaviour) depends on whether you respect and value that person. They do not have to live close by they just have to be a person you respect enough to follow some of their actions. For example, you may have a friend in a different country who inspires you to try out a new diet program.

In one sentence, this emerging branch of social science reminds us that we can help nourish our health and well being more in the direction we want to go by spending time with people whose habits we desire to acquire.

Enjoy a wonderful day,
David

P.S. You can follow the link of the image below to read about Dr. Christakis  Award Winning (and Oprah recommended) book called Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives

You can learn more about Dr. Christakis social science relating to wellness on his website located here.

2. Give another person a compliment

3. Give yet another person a compliment

4. Give a fourth person a compliment

5. Give a fifth person a compliment

6. Give as many people as you genuinely can give a compliment

7. Give yourself a compliment for all the compliments you gave

Share this idea and enjoy a wonderful day,

David